Modular computer system mechanical interconnection

• US 20030043537A1
• Filed: 10/22/2002
• Published: 03/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sun Microsystems Incorporated (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sun Microsystems Incorporated (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Clidaras, Jimmy, Kitlas, Kenneth
• Granted Patent: US 6,781,844 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/683
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/181 Enclosures for portable computers G06F1/1613
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1429 for circuits carrying a CPU and adapted to receive expansion cards

Abstract

A modular computer system mechanical interconnection includes a primary chassis having a first opening and a secondary chassis attached to the primary chassis and having a second opening, wherein the first opening and the second opening are generally aligned. The apparatus further includes a backplate covering the aligned first opening and second opening.

Claims

1. A modular computer system, comprising:

a primary chassis having a first opening;

a motherboard disposed in the primary chassis, wherein the motherboard has an electrical connector disposed behind the first opening;

a secondary chassis attached to the primary chassis and having a second opening, wherein the first opening and the second opening are generally aligned;

an external device disposed in the secondary chassis, wherein the external device has an electrical connector disposed behind the second opening;

a bridgeboard having a first electrical connector interconnected with the motherboard electrical connector and a second electrical connector interconnected with the external device connector, wherein the bridgeboard is disposed within the first opening and second opening; and

a backplate covering the first opening and second opening.

2. A modular computer system, according to claim 1, wherein the backplate is made of an electrically conductive material.

3. A modular computer system, according to claim 1, wherein the backplate is integral with the bridgeboard.

4. A modular computer system, according to claim 1, wherein the bridgeboard is attached to the backplate.

5. A modular computer system, according to claim 1, wherein the motherboard is located in a predetermined position in the primary chassis.

6. A modular computer system, according to claim 1, wherein a location of the bridgeboard with respect to the primary chassis and the secondary chassis is determined by a location of the motherboard in the primary chassis.

7. A modular computer system, according to claim 3, wherein a location of the external device in the secondary chassis is determined by the location of the bridgeboard.

8. A modular computer system, according to claim 1, further comprising a gasket between the backplate and the primary chassis and between the backplate and the secondary chassis.

9. A modular computer system, according to claim 1, wherein the backplate is attachable to the primary chassis and the secondary chassis based upon a location of the motherboard in the primary chassis.

10. A modular computer system, according to claim 1, wherein the primary chassis has at least one attachment hole, the secondary chassis has at least one attachment hole, and the backplate has at least two attachment holes, wherein the attachment holes are for receiving fasteners therethrough to attach the backplate to the primary chassis and the secondary chassis, wherein the at least two attachment holes in the backplate are larger than the at least one hole in the primary chassis and the at least one hole in the secondary chassis.

11. A modular computer system, according to claim 1, wherein each of the primary chassis and the secondary chassis have a plurality of attachment holes therethrough for receiving fasteners therethough to attach the primary chassis to the secondary chassis.

12. A modular computer system, according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of rails in the secondary chassis for guiding the location of the external device within a predetermined volume.

13. A modular computer system, according to claim 12, wherein the plurality of rails are sufficiently spaced to allow the external device to move side-to-side between adjacent rails.

14. A modular computer system, according to claim 1, wherein the bridgeboard further comprises a locating pin and the external device further comprises a locating block having a recess therein adapted to receive the locating pin.

15. A modular computer system, according to claim 14, wherein the locating pin has a chamfered portion to assist in guiding the locating pin into the recess.

16. A modular computer system, according to claim 1, wherein the motherboard further comprises a main portion and a flexible circuit interconnecting the main portion and the motherboard electrical connector, the modular computer system further comprising:

a guide pin attached to the primary chassis; and

a guide block having a recess therethrough and attached to the motherboard electrical connector, wherein the recess is adapted to receive the guide pin so that the guide block is capable of sliding along the guide pin.

17. A modular computer system, according to claim 1, wherein the external device further comprises a main portion and a flexible circuit interconnecting the main portion and the external device electrical connector, the modular computer system further comprising:

a guide pin attached to the primary chassis; and

a guide block having a recess therethrough and attached to the motherboard electrical connector, wherein the recess is adapted to receive the guide pin so that the guide block is capable of sliding along the guide pin.

18. A modular computer system, according to claim 1, wherein the bridgeboard further comprises a main portion, a connector board, and a flexible circuit, wherein the main portion and the connector board are interconnected via the flexible circuit and the first connector is electrically connected to the connector board, the modular computer system further comprising:

a guide pin attached to the secondary chassis; and

a guide block having a recess therethrough and attached to the connector board,

wherein the recess is adapted to receive the guide pin so that the guide block is capable of sliding along the guide pin.

19. A modular computer system, according to claim 18, further comprising a stop block disposed between the connector board and the backplate and attached to the backplate to support the connector board, wherein the connector board is capable of sliding along a surface of the stop block.

20. A modular computer system, according to claim 1, wherein the bridgeboard further comprises a main portion, a connector board, and a flexible circuit, wherein the main portion and the connector board are interconnected via the flexible circuit and the second connector is electrically connected to the connector board, the modular computer system further comprising:

a guide pin attached to the secondary chassis; and

a guide block having a recess therethrough and attached to the connector board,

wherein the recess is adapted to receive the guide pin so that the guide block is capable of sliding along the guide pin.

21. A modular computer system, according to claim 20, further comprising a stop block disposed between the connector board and the backplate and attached to the backplate to support the connector board, wherein the connector board is capable of sliding along a surface of the stop block.

22. An apparatus for electrically interconnecting a first device with a second device, wherein the first device is attached to a structure, the apparatus comprising:

a first connector;

a flexible circuit electrically connected to the first device and the first connector;

a second connector electrically connected to the second device;

a guide pin attached to the structure; and

a guide block having a recess therethrough and attached to the first connector,

wherein the recess is adapted to receive the guide pin so that the guide block is capable of sliding along the guide pin.

23. An apparatus for electrically interconnecting a first device with a second device, wherein the second device is attached to a structure, the apparatus comprising:

a first connector electrically connected to the first device;

a second connector;

a connector board attached to and electrically connected to the second connector;

a flexible circuit electrically connected to the second device and the connector board;

a guide pin attached to the structure; and

a guide block having a recess therethrough and attached to the connector board,

wherein the recess is adapted to receive the guide pin so that the guide block is capable of sliding along the guide pin.

24. An apparatus, according to claim 23, further comprising a stop block disposed between the connector board and the structure and attached to the structure to support the connector board, wherein the connector board is capable of sliding along a surface of the stop block.

25. An apparatus, comprising:

a primary chassis having a first opening;

a secondary chassis attached to the primary chassis and having a second opening,

wherein the first opening and the second opening are generally aligned; and

a backplate covering the first opening and second opening.

26. An apparatus, according to claim 25, wherein the backplate is made of an electrically conductive material.

27. An apparatus, according to claim 25, further comprising a gasket between the backplate and the primary chassis and between the backplate and the secondary chassis.

28. An apparatus, according to claim 27, wherein the gasket is an electromagnetic interference-shielding gasket.

29. An apparatus, according to claim 25, wherein the primary chassis has at least one attachment hole, the secondary chassis has at least one attachment hole, and the backplate has at least two attachment holes, wherein the attachment holes are for receiving fasteners therethrough to attach the backplate to the primary chassis and the secondary chassis, wherein the at least two attachment holes in the backplate are larger than the at least one hole in the primary chassis and the at least one hole in the secondary chassis.

30. An apparatus, according to claim 25, wherein each of the primary chassis and the secondary chassis have a plurality of attachment holes therethrough for receiving fasteners therethough to attach the primary chassis to the secondary chassis.